McPhillamys

The 100% Regis-owned McPhillamys Gold Project is one of Australia’s largest undeveloped open pit gold projects.

Project Overview

McPhillamys is located approximately 250 kilometres west of Sydney in the Blayney-Kings Plains district, an established mining region of Central Western NSW.

Approvals

In 2023, the project received all necessary approvals from both the State and Federal governments under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EBPC Act) and the New South Wales Independent Planning Commission (NSW IPC).

NSW planning assessment documents are here.

Independent Planning Commission documents and Conditions of Consent are here.

EPBC Act documents and conditions of consent are here.

Section 10 Declaration

On 16 August 2024, Regis received notice that the Federal Minister for Environment and Water made a declaration of protection over part of the approved Project site. The decision was made by declaration under Section 10 of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 (Cth) (Section 10 Declaration).

This outcome has materially impacted the ability to construct and utilise the planned Tailings Storage Facility area and rendered the Project unviable in its current form.

This decision has effectively overridden prior approvals by the NSW IPC and the Minister’s own Department under the EPBC Act, which included an assessment of cultural heritage.

As a result, Regis has withdrawn the Project outcomes of the McPhillamys DFS and withdrew 1.89Moz of Ore Reserves previously declared with the Project.

Regis is currently undertaking formal legal proceedings in the Federal Court, challenging the Minister’s decision and seeking a declaration that the decision is invalid.